Bomdila monastery

The colourful land of Bomdila, which lies amidst the graceful Himalayan ranges at a height of 8500 feet above the sea level, is the headquarter of the western Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Buddhist monastery of Bomdila is the repository of culture and is among primary attractions of the area.

The Bomdila Gompa or monastery is one of the most prominent centres of the Lamaistic faith of Mahayana Buddhism. A replica of the Tsona Gontse monastery at Tsona in the southern Tibet, the Bomdila monastery (also known as the Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Lling monastery) was set up by the twelfth reincarnate of the Tsona Gontse Rinpoche. The reincarnate who was born in Morshing, west Kameng, had established this monastery in the year 1965 before his death in 1966. However, the Rinpoche, the thirteenth reincarnation, Tsona Gontse Rinponche renovated and enlarged the monastery by including a huge main prayer hall, which was further blessed by His Highness the 14th Holi Dalai Lama in 1997.

The Gompa comprises a prayer hall, used by the Lamas and the monks for peace prayers, a temple of the Buddha and residential quarters for the monks. Besides the prayers and tantrayana practices, the young monks are also taught about the monastic life and tradition and different subjects by the senior Lamas or the monks of the monastery.

The monastery follows the Mahayana school of Buddhism and celebrates numerous festivals important in a Buddhist's life. Losar, being the major one, is celebrated to mark the beginning of the New Year according to the Monapa calendar. This festival goes on for 15 days, in which prayers are offered along with hoisting of the prayer flags. Another festival, Saka Dawa, held on the fourth month of the lunar calendar, marks the day of the Buddha's enlightenment. Torgya is another major occasion celebrated for three days in the eleventh month of the lunar calendar to rejoice the victory of good over the evil. Dukpa Tse-Shi, observed in the 6th month according to the lunar calendar honours the fist sermon delivered by the Buddha while the Lhabab Duechen festival marks the reincarnation of the Buddha in His Shakyamuni form, celebrated on the ninth month of the calendar.

The land of Bomdila and its culture is under a strong Tibetan cultural and traditional influence. It is an attractive destination for the tourists from all across the globe to have a closer look of Indian culture, Buddhist tradition and hospitable locales of the north eastern India.

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